DISABILITY PENSION

7th Pay Commission: As the NDA government`s tenure at the Centre is inching closer, it is taking steps to meet long pending demands of working class, especially the central government employees. 

7th Pay Commission: As the NDA government's tenure at the Centre is inching closer, it is taking steps to meet long pending demands of working class, especially the central government employees. This time Modi government has agreed to the demands of armed forces personnel who have been asking for hike in minimum disability or war injury pension. The step has been taken beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, which had suggested a slab-based system for determining the disability pension for defence forces.

The government had to face widespread criticism over introducing slab-based system, and the Defence Ministry referred the matter to the Anomaly Committee. Finally, the ministry has decided that disability or war injury pension for armed forces personnel shall be minimum Rs 18,000 per month.

In July 2018, the Defence Ministry had said that armed forces personnel would continue to get disability pension based on percentage system till the Anomaly Committee came out with a report on the issue.

Notably, recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission was widely criticised from opposition parties as well as the military establishment for introducing a slab-based system to determine the disability pension for defence forces.

On Thursday, the Defence Ministry tweeted, "With approval from Smt @nsitharaman, it has been decided that the disability/war injury pension, special family pension and liberalised family pension shall be minimum Rs 18,000 per month for Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners, with effect from 1/1/2016." 

With this decision, the prevailing confusion as to what system would be used to determine disability pension has come to an end.  Citing defence sources, PTI said that till the committee comes out with a report, existing percentage system will be used to determine disability pension.

Notably, about 50 lakh central employees are hopeful that the government would certainly pay heed to their demand for hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the 7th pay Commission recommendation.

Source ZEE Business